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NATURAL
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Don’t
Feed This to Your Dog!
By Aaron Wilmont
Unfortunately, there are a number
of household items that we tend to take for granted that are potentially
very dangerous to your dog's health. It is especially important
to be aware of this because as you know, dogs are essentially
scavengers and will often eat just about anything they can sink
their fangs into. I would say that my own dog is more like a mobile
garbage disposal. It is also very important to be aware of these
items since dogs’ sense of smell is so well developed that
your pooch will be able to find what you may think is well hidden.
The dangers of chocolate
One of these dangerous household items, it turns out, is simple
chocolate. While
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chocolate has been reported recently to be high
in human-friendly antioxidants, it appears to be potentially lethal
for our pets and particularly for our dogs. Cats are mostly unaffected,
since they do not care for the taste of chocolate, but dogs tend
to be crazy about it.
Certain breeds of dogs react differently
to chocolate. The root of the problem is that chocolate contains
various chemicals called methylxanthine alkaloids (some types
have more of these chemicals than others). Sadly, relatively miniscule
amounts of these chemicals are capable of causing such serious
problems as constriction of the arteries and an increased heart
rate. Large amounts may cause even more dire symptoms, and a pound
of milk chocolate could possibly kill a 16-pound dog.
If you find that your dog has eaten
chocolate, then by all means take note of its type and try to
estimate the amount eaten. Then get on the phone with a veterinarian
or an emergency facility. Be sure that your children know how
important it is to keep chocolate out of your dog’s reach.
If you are not aware that your
dog has consumed chocolate, the consequences could be severe.
If consumption is not found within four to six hours, without
the right treatment, cardiac failure, seizures, coma and death
could result, according to veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks.
Other common dangers
In addition to seemingly innocent chocolate, there are a number
of other common household items that may seem safe for our dogs
but that can be downright dangerous.
Some mushrooms, for example, can
produce abdominal pain, liver and kidney damage and anemia. So
be aware of wild mushrooms when you are out walking your dog in
wooded areas. Garlic may seem benign but can cause vomiting, liver
damage, anemia and diarrhea, so do not give your pet baby food
since it can contain garlic.
Anti-freeze can shut down your
dog's kidney, yet they tend to love the taste. Mistletoe can cause
vomiting, abdominal pain and depression. Onions can cause liver
damage, anemia and diarrhea. Onion can also sometimes be found
in baby food. Cats are actually somewhat more sensitive to this
one, so keep out of the reach of both.
Coffee, like cocoa, is especially
dangerous and may cause heart rate increase, diarrhea, seizures,
coma, death. Caffeine just does not have the same effect in dogs.
When outside, be careful around
apple and cherry trees. While the fruit is safe, the leaves and
roots are not.
And be very careful about moth
balls. Their primary chemical, naphthalene, is extremely toxic
to dogs and can result in tremors and seizures.
Watch out for dog foods
Concerning dog food, you should be looking for dyes and other
chemicals, according to Dr. Bicks. BHA, for instance, which is
one of the main synthetic antioxidant preservatives used to prevent
food discoloration, has been observed to cause cancer in laboratory
rats at certain doses. Small doses are as yet unclear, but since
dog food is eaten every day, caution is advised.
Many conventional dog food brands
have large quantities of sodium to make them palatable, and this
can be quite harmful to a dog. Other ingredients to wary of are
dairy, by-products, chemical preservatives and artificial colors.
© Aaron Wilmont
Aaron Wilmont is an author and
researcher in the fields of human and pet health. For more information,
go to http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com/.
